Backend Socket Failed Errors

[Lucky Leavell]

OS: RHEL5.2
Version of CUPS: 1.2.4
Printer: HP DesignJet 4550ps

We are receiving random error "/usr/lib/cups/backend/ socket failed" errors which stops the queue. Nothing is logged in error_log despite logging level of Debug. We can restart the queue from either the web interface or us cupsenable. The current job also shows as "Stopped" and we can restart the job from the web interface as well.

Questions:
    1. Any idea as to why this error occurs and what can be done about it
    2. I have written a simple script to restart stopped queues but it
       prompts for a password each time even when run as root
    3. IS there a way to tell from the command line if a job is stopped?
    4. Is there a way to restart a stopped job from the command line?

Thank you
Lucky Leavell